16 BULLETIN 440, U. S. DEPAETMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



A labor cost of 60 cents per 1,000 would ordinarily be divided 

 between the different steps of the operation in about the following 

 proportion: Felling, 19 cents; limbing, 7 cents; bucking, 34 cents. 



In the very rough timber on the east slope of the Sierras an extra 

 limber is often required at an additional cost of $2.75 per day, or 

 normally 7 cents per 1,000. 



The addition of an undercutter and extra buckers increases the 

 output but does not materially affect the cost. The advantage of 

 a very expert undercutter is a saving in breakage. Further, the 

 enlarged crews sometimes fit in better with the size of the logging 

 operations. For example, a small single band mill might be served 

 more cheaply by one set of three f allers than by two sets of two each. 



In logging operations where the logs are yarded in long lengths, 

 the standard crew under ordinary conditions is two fallers, one 

 limber, and two buckers. The average daily labor cost of such a 

 crew is $15, which amounts to 50 cents per 1,000 at 30,000 daily; 

 43 cents per 1,000 at 35,000 daily; 40 cents per 1,000 at 38,000 daily; 

 and 37 cents per 1,000 at 40,000 daily. 



Two systems are employed for bucking long logs into short lengths 

 at the yarding engines. The first is used only in the smaller timber 

 of the pure yeUow-pine stands, where the work is done by hand. 

 Two men are required at a machine averaging from 25,000 to 30,000 

 daily and three men at a machine yarding from 38,000 to 40,000. 

 The cost is 23 cents per 1,000 for a machine averaging 26,000 feet 

 per day; 20 cents for one averaging 30,000; 24 cents for one averag- 

 ing 35,000; and 21 cents for one averaging 40,000. Thus it appears 

 that this system does not reduce the cost of felling and bucking. 

 The saving comes in yarding. In the larger timber a portable steam 

 saw does the bucking at each yarder. Steam is furnished by pipes 

 from the donkey boilers. A 20-foot metallic hose may connect the 

 pipe to the saw in order to permit the saw being moved from one 

 log cut to another. If a hose is not used, each log cut must be 

 spotted at the saw. Two men are required to operate a saw of this 

 type. The daily cost, including upkeep, is about $6. The maximum 

 amount that may be sawed daily is 80,000 feet, or well in excess of 

 the output of any yarder in this region. The cost of sawing is 23 

 cents per 1,000 at a machine yarding 26,000 daily; 20 cents at one 

 yarding 30,000; 17 cents at one yarding 35,000; and 15 cents at one 

 yarding 40,000. Thus this system lowers the cost of bucking in aU 

 cases where the average amount yarded daily per machine is in 

 excess of 30,000 feet. 



Many concerns situated in northern California log in lengths up 

 to 32 or 40 feet as far as the mill pond. Logs over 20 feet in length 

 are then bucked once with a steam drag-saw which is located on the 

 pond or just inside the mill. This system saves considerable in 



